Malaysia eyes RM34.5b MedTech export base to capture greater high-value growth
MALAYSIA is targeting a bigger economic payoff from its medical-device industry by moving beyond manufacturing for global companies towards designing, developing and owning more of the technologies it exports. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Na...
Malaysia aims to transform its RM34.5 billion medical-device export sector into a larger generator of domestic wealth, high-skilled jobs, and technology ownership. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir emphasized the importance of shifting away from merely manufacturing for foreign firms to designing, developing, and owning more of the technologies sold abroad.
This transition is crucial for Malaysia to convert its established position in global medical-device supply chains into higher-value investments, better-paying jobs, stronger local companies, and greater domestic control over technology.
Speaking at the International Medical Device Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC) 2026, Akmal stressed that "Made in Malaysia" remains strong, but "Made by Malaysia" must increasingly become a source of future growth. The minister highlighted that Malaysia should capture more value from the products it manufactures by enhancing capabilities in design, engineering, research and development, software, regulatory expertise, and commercialization.
Recent data shows that Malaysia's medical-device exports reached RM34.54 billion in 2025, with RM4 billion in investments approved for 46 projects, creating potential employment for 3,393 individuals. These figures demonstrate that Malaysia has already established a solid foundation in the global healthcare supply chain, backed by expertise in electronics, precision engineering, plastics, rubber, packaging, sterilization, and advanced manufacturing.
The challenge now is to ensure that a larger share of the economic and technological value generated by the industry stays within Malaysia. Akmal noted that the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) has identified the sector's shift from a traditional "Build-to-Print" model to higher-value "Build-to-Design" activities as a positive step.
The next phase of Malaysia's MedTech journey should focus not only on the quantity of manufacturing but also on the value created around the manufactured products, including design, engineering, R&D, software, regulatory capability, and commercialization.
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